Mary-Kate McKenna '80 of Cohasset joins Board of Trustees

Mary-Kate G. McKenna of Cohasset, MA, a 1980 graduate of Saint Michael's College and the parent of a member of the Saint Michael's Class of 2015, has been named to the SMC Board of Trustees. Ms. McKenna, appointed to a three-year term and renewable for another two terms, attended her first board meeting at the college October 11-13.

About her inspiration to join the SMC board, she said, "I love Saint Michael's; I've been affiliated with the college since I arrived at the school as a student in 1976. Since then I've headed up different reunion years for the college and my classmates, and have sent my son to Saint Michael's."

Ms. McKenna, who holds a Master of Science degree (2012) in management from Boston College, served for the past 10 years as a trustee of Derby Academy of Hingham, Mass. Previously, she was an associate at Paine Webber and then at Morgan Stanley, and for seven years was Vice President at Dillon Read & Co., New York, NY.

"I love the magic and the alchemy of Saint Michael's College"

Ms. McKenna was named Saint Michael's College Alumna of the Year in 2005. She chaired the class of 1980 reunions in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2010.

"I love the transformational quality of a Saint Michael's education," she said, explaining her allegiance to the college. "It's one thing to take someone fully formed and tweak them, but it's entirely another to take someone who is still finding themselves and guide them into being a fully formed human being."

"That's the magic and the alchemy of Saint Michael's College - to guide the student along the way," Ms. McKenna said. "I believe in the college's Catholic mission to focus not just on one's self, but for the good of society," she said. "And, speaking as a graduate and as a parent, people at Saint Michael's have relationships with their professors that you don't get everywhere. My son has amazing interactions with his professors," she said.

Ms. McKenna served from 1998 to 2008 as co-chair and treasurer of Martha's Vineyard Hospital House Tour. She is a member of St. Anthony's Parish in Cohasset, MA.

Ms. McKenna and her husband James McKenna and their children, John Peter '15, Katherine, and Mark, reside in Cohasset.